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South Carolina Basketball – Projecting Next Season’s Starting Lineup

By Jacob Elsey

AUBURN, AL - JANUARY 22: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives around Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the game at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - JANUARY 22: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives around Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the game at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN, AL – JANUARY 22: Wildens Leveque #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots from the free throw line during the second half of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL – JANUARY 22: Wildens Leveque #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots from the free throw line during the second half of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

CENTER

STARTER – Wildens Leveque (2.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG)

RESERVE – Patrick Iriel

South Carolina will be without F/C Maik Kotsar next year, leaving a huge void to fill in the Gamecocks’ frontcourt.  Kotsar was Frank Martin’s best defender, and was among the team leaders in minutes, points, assists, steals, blocks, and rebounds.  The Gamecocks also lose F/C Micaiah Henry, who exhausted his final year of eligibility following a graduate transfer.  With so much inexperience at the position, expect South Carolina to use a “center-by-committee” approach to match the minutes lost from last year’s squad.

At 6’ 11”, Wildens Leveque will be the tallest member of the 2020 Carolina basketball team.  As a freshman last year, he played in 30 games, earning eight starts.  He saw a significant bump in action following late season injuries to Justin Minaya and Jalyn McCreary.  Leveque was extremely efficient around the basket, converting over 60% of his 2-pt attempts, and leading the team in shooting percentage.  He’ll need to cut down on foul trouble, as the Massachusetts native averaged over two fouls per game despite playing in under 10 minutes a contest, but due to his height I believe he has a legitimate chance to be the starting center in 2020.  How things look after the opening tip will depend on Frank Martin’s confidence in Leveque.  As previously mentioned, there will be a number of players called on to fill minutes at the center position.

Patrick Iriel comes to South Carolina as a top 300 prospect and the 3rd best player in the state, following a career at AC Flora High School.  Iriel chose the Gamecocks over offers from Boston College, Butler, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, and Southern Cal.  The 6’ 10” newcomer will look to chip in as a freshman, and should have an opportunity to earn some minutes.

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